Indian users trying to access Perplexity’s AI chatbot via Perplexity.in were surprised to land on Google Gemini instead. The redirect isn’t a secret partnership but a simple oversight—Perplexity never registered the .in domain. A third party purchased it and pointed it to Gemini, sparking confusion amid Perplexity’s India expansion.
In a twist that feels straight out of the digital playbook, Indian users attempting to reach Perplexity’s AI chatbot through Perplexity.in have found themselves redirected to Google Gemini, its direct competitor. The unexpected detour has raised eyebrows, but the explanation is far less dramatic than rumors of corporate tie-ups or takeovers.
According to reports, Perplexity never owned the .in domain extension. Instead, the company operates globally under Perplexity.ai and Perplexity.com, without securing country-specific domains. This left the Indian domain open for purchase, and whoever acquired it chose to redirect traffic to Gemini. Experts note this is a common occurrence in the digital space, where unclaimed domains are often snapped up by opportunistic buyers.
Despite the confusion, Perplexity continues to expand aggressively in India, forging partnerships with Airtel and Reliance Jio to strengthen its presence. The redirect, while inconvenient, does not reflect any operational setback for the company but highlights the importance of domain strategy in competitive tech markets.
Major Takeaways
Unexpected Redirect: Users typing Perplexity.in are sent to Google Gemini, sparking speculation.
No Partnership: The redirect stems from Perplexity’s failure to register the .in domain, not a deal with Google.
Global Strategy: Perplexity relies on Perplexity.ai as its main domain, avoiding country-specific extensions.
India Expansion: Active collaborations with Airtel and Jio underline Perplexity’s commitment to the Indian market.
Lesson Learned: The incident underscores the critical need for domain management in competitive industries.
Notable Updates
Domain redirection practices are common, often used by private owners to leverage traffic.
The timing of this redirect is significant, given Perplexity’s rising popularity in India.
Google has not claimed ownership of the domain; it is likely controlled by a private entity.
The episode highlights how digital oversight can inadvertently benefit competitors.
Conclusion: The Perplexity.in redirect saga is less about rivalry and more about oversight. While users may be momentarily confused, Perplexity’s India ambitions remain intact. The incident serves as a reminder that in the fast-paced AI race, even small details like domain ownership can shape user perception and competitive advantage.
Sources: The Daily Jagran
